India, April 22 -- The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued directives to all restaurants, caterers/ hotel owners and fast food establishments that beginning May 1, they need to specify very prominently whether their dishes contain paneer or cheese analog and point out the difference between the two.

Regulation 2.1.1 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 emphasises that paneer is a product made exclusively from milk. In contrast, a dairy analog is made using edible oils, starch, emulsifiers and other ingredients. It may look like paneer but it is not paneer. According to FSSAI standards, it falls under the category of 'cheese analog'.

"India is a leading country in milk production, and paneer is an important ...